Yes, we can-- enjoy a bountiful harvest all year! Join us to share in the local harvest and preserve fresh local fruit and vegetables with us while supporting Farmer Members of the WEFC. A Community Supported Orchard share means you are supporting farmers who get a guaranteed market and a fair rate. It means you get access to a wide variety of local fruit and veg all year long as well as the opportunity to practice your canning and preserving with a skilled and supportive group of committed canners with the space, equipment, and ingredients to can enough to fill your pantry.

How does it work?
Every two weeks (for a total of 8 sessions), our producers will bring your share of their harvest to the community cannery. Members will get together to preserve the fruit and veg, and take home their share — around 65-80 jars by the end of the season (cost per jar ends up being under $5). Shareholders get the fresh produce, recipe, ingredients, access to WEFC's Community Kitchen and water-bath canning equipment, and expert assistance. You supply your labour, your appetite, and a fee of $400 (subsidy and payment plan options exist, see below).

Cannery Sessions will run from 6:00 to 9:00 on Tuesday and Thursday nights. You should sign up for the weekday you most prefer, but you may be allowed to shift from day to day (with prior approval) as your schedule dictates throughout the season. The WEFC's Community Kitchen is located at our Food Hub on Queen street West, just steps West of Dufferin street. The store will be open during the sessions, so it's a great opportunity to do some Co-op shopping as well.

The amounts and fruits will vary depending on the harvest, so your larder will reflect the climate. 2017 has been a fluctuating but generally warm winter, which will mean a good season for most fruits and veggies, and we anticipate good quantities of most things. Crops may include aspargus, rhubarb, strawberries, cherries, apricots, peaches, hot peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, grapes, apples, and so much more. You'll be making a large selection of jams, jellies, spreads, fruit in syrup, chutneys, fermentations, and/or salsas. Shares are limited so don’t delay!

How do I sign up?

Sign up and pay online or pay via debit or credit at WEFC (1229 Queen St. West) at least 2 days prior to the first session on Thursday June 1st. Please register for the event that clearly indicates the weekday you expect to attend most often. If registrations for one of the weekdays are filling up we may email you asking if anyone can move to one of the other nights. Please note that you must be a WEFC member to attend our CSO session. If you're not already a member, please join here.

Availability & Accessibility

Shares are first come, first serve and initially only 28 shares will be sold this season. If interest is high, we will add a Saturday afternoon session. Shareholders are permitted to split shares, as long as they can have 1 person attending each session. You may find a friend to split your shares with, and alternate attending sessions. WEFC strives to be inclusive, so if you would like to participate but need financial assistance in order to do so, please contact cannery@westendfood.coop to discuss subsidized spaces and payment plan options.

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